Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic review

Competition

Even though the smartwatch market has matured over the years. The dust has already settled, and Samsung, Apple and Huawei reign in the premium segment.

And you could make a case that the Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm in this case) is a niche choice as it can only be used by iPhone owners. It doesn't work with Android.

The Samsung's Galaxy Watch series, on the other hand, does work with iPhone but with limited functionality. So the two smartwatch series are not targeting the same subset of users.

This leaves much breathing room for Samsung, and it shows. The company is charging a price premium for its Galaxy Watch6 Classic lineup, and prices range between €370 and €450 depending on the size (43mm vs. 47mm) and whether it supports LTE or not. But that's not always justified, as you can choose from equally viable options without breaking the bank.

The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5, for example, is a modern Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1-powered smartwatch running on Wear OS, with superior battery life and a dual-display configuration. It has one OLED display and one ultra-low power panel that saves a ton of battery if you are out in the wild away from the plug. It's definitely tailored towards users with more active, outdoorsy lifestyles, but it's still elegant enough for everyday use. And it has a rotating crown, which is the second-best option after the rotating bezel. The best part is that this watch would set you back just $350 if you are in the US.

The Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro is another Android-friendly option, but it barely scratches the definition of a smartwatch. Sure, it has most of the smart functionalities, but it's not running a full-fledged OS with an established ecosystem of apps and whatnot. There's no deep integration with Google's apps like Maps, Calendar, etc., and it doesn't support Google Pay. You can't install Spotify for offline listening, for example.

Still, the Watch S1 Pro has most of the fitness-tracking features and has killer battery life - it can easily last for more than a week. So, in case you are battery-anxious, the Watch S1 Pro might be a good fit for you. Unless, of course, you are looking for advanced functionalities and apps on your wrist.

Last but not least, we have Huawei's Watch 4 Pro as a premium alternative that can even cost more in some markets. It does run a proprietary Harmony OS with a limited set of apps, but it's nowhere near Google Wear OS level. No Google Pay either. Nevertheless, you get a wide choice of apps and watch faces via the AppGallery store, advanced health and fitness tracking and, more importantly, longer battery life. One could make a case for a more premium build, too - it has a ceramic back, TC4 titanium frame and a metal wristband. The display is protected by spherical sapphire glass, while the Watch6 Classic boasts less appealing sapphire flat glass.

As always, the older Galaxy Watches are just as viable options due to the nature of smartwatches - upgrades are usually incremental. We are not saying that the Galaxy Watch6 Classic's upgrades in the display and chipset department don't matter, but ultimately, the user experience is quite similar to that of the Galaxy Watch4 Classic, which now costs less than half of what the Watch6 Classic. Alternatively, the Galaxy Watch5 Pro goes for around €300 right now, offering substantially longer battery life but lacking the rotating bezel, which in our book is a potential deal-breaker.

Verdict

On a macro level, the Galaxy Watch6 Classic is the best Samsung smartwatch ever. The display is noticeably bigger without sacrificing body size, the performance is so much better, brings some new features along with a new temperature sensor, and we finally get the rotating bezel back.

However, the downgrade in battery life and the price premium for the Classic version are two considerable drawbacks. The polished One UI over Wear OS and the deep integration with Google's apps (Google Maps navigation on your wrist is pretty neat!) may not be enough to justify the two-day battery life for some users. But in case that's not an issue for you, the Galaxy Watch6 Classic is an easy recommendation and undoubtedly one of the best Android experiences on the wrist.

Pros

• Sapphire glass and good build quality, and the strap feels better now.
• Bigger and brighter OLED screen with thinner bezel.
• The ring is back and it's more elegant now.
• A wide selection of sensors with advanced health-tracking features, including skin temperature.
• One UI Watch is more polished than ever, great notification handling, and excellent integration with Google's apps.

Cons

• Quite expensive at launch.
• ECG, IHR and Blood Pressure measurements work only with Samsung phones.
• Body composition measurements have questionable accuracy (true for most home-grade devices anyway).
• Battery life may be a step up from the Galaxy Watch4 Classic, but it's a downgrade from the Watch 5 Pro.